The Unseen Problems in Leo

I wanted to pen this post for a long time but it failed. I tried to suppress the emotions, giving myself the excuse of avoiding unnecessary troubles.

After much consideration, I decided to blurt out whatever that is encompassed in my mind. It would be a post much centred on the Leo Club organisation, which I have been indulged in since 2003. An amicable solution has not surfaced after speaking out my concerns about the directions of Leo Club of Penang (City) to the president, Leo Saw Zhang Hao.

What people witness is just only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many problems being swept under the carpet and they do not want to accept the fact there is a need to address the matters. For the matters written below, you may think it is not appropriate to be divulged openly as it may 'hurt' a few so called prominent figures in the arena.

-Opportunities are so close and yet so far.

• No one would question about your past contributions to the club. We highly appreciate it. But did you notice on the other hand, you are still taking control of the club? Even the president nodded that he is just a puppet, listening to commands and orders from you.

• Citing the previous president as an example, nobody would disagree with this fact. Please give room for the president and office bearers to express their leadership and capabilities.

-Be clear of your status in the club.

• You have to accept the fact that although you are a Past President of the club, you no longer hold any power in deciding the matters in a BOD meeting. You have to be clear that you are not even in the Board of Directors for this fiscal year 2009-2010. But you can still give your views and opinions during the Business Meeting designated for members.
  

• If you still remember the BOD meeting in July 2009, when I spoke about the application of being part of the Leo Cabinet, you were the first to object it though other BODs did not say No. I would like to know for what reasons that you held at that time to say No and everyone has to adhere?

• I asked Zhang Hao about this that day and he agreed that there were no conditions stating that to be part of the Leo Cabinet, one must be a past president.

• And since you are no longer a BOD, why the third signature right should fall to you? The first being the right of the Treasurer, second being the right of the President and third should be the right of a Vice President or the Assistant Treasurer!

-What's the point of having constitutions and regulations?

• Speaking about the Leo Cabinet, I remember that Lion Ong Lai Peng told me the need for an election for the key positions. But did I see this?

• The Lions Club International set the Leo range for alpha and omega and too lions. What's the point of having this if one can be a Leo and a Lion at the same time? We are now not talking about a Lion-Leo Club which does not exist in Penang.
  

• Isn't that a contradiction to what you have been speaking that you want to follow the regulations?

• And since you are a Lion of the New Century Lions Club of Penang Island, it would be more paradox for you to hold the third signature right!

-Walk the talk and not merely smearing others.

• You complained that Vice President Leo Lee Cheng Yee did not show the proper and appropriate conduct. I am now wondering how do you define a proper conduct?

• I do not think you would forget you stamping on a car in Ipoh, right? Is that how you defined good conduct with the signs of violence?

-It's time for a new mindset, not restricting change.

• It is such a coward act that you do not have the courage to speak it out loud during the meeting. I proposed using English as the medium of meeting, viewing it as a benefit not only in the Leo business and also job opportunities in close future.

• I am being treated as a scapegoat that you thought I was looking down on you. That's just your own betrayal of soul, I shall say.
  

-Last but not least, I am no Beggar.

• You insinuated my capabilities when you said "I ask Fiona first, if she doesn't want then I give you".
• I do things based on my capabilities and not to 'polish people's shoes'.

Remembering Teoh Beng Hock

[Adapted from the Nutgraph]

By Teoh Nie Ching, MP for Serdang

THERE are some people whom we have known for a long time yet it feels like we only met them yesterday. And then there are some people that we only just met, yet it feels like we have known them for a long time. My friendship with Teoh Beng Hock fell into the second category.

I got to know Beng Hock during the March 2008 general election. To be honest, the first impression he gave me was that he was rather cool and unfriendly. But that impression was soon overtaken by his support and convictions.

I was still a newbie in politics then despite being a DAP candidate for the Serdang parliamentary seat. At that time, I was unfamiliar with the problems Kajang and Serdang residents faced. Beng Hock, who was an experienced reporter, immediately recognised my problem. He pulled me aside during one ceramah and gave me a run down on every problem in my constituency, as quickly as he could during the time we had. It was then that I realised that the tall and thin reporter may have looked unfriendly, but the flame for justice burned bright and deep in him.

Hard work, low salary

When I met Beng Hock again after the general election, he had already become political secretary to Ean Yong Hian Wah, the Seri Kembangan assemblyperson from the DAP. We would meet up often after that.

We always discussed political and constituency-related issues. Sometimes, we could quickly think up of solutions for these issues but at other times, we were unable to because of various limitations. Then Beng Hock would tell me, "Nie Ching, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) must take over the federal government. State government's power is too limited. Only with the federal government power in hand can we come up with radical changes."

A political assistant's work is normally tiring. These assistants usually have long working hours, including during the weekends. When we were organising an event or activity, Beng Hock regularly had to work overtime until 3am or 4am at the service centre.

But despite these long hours, an assistant's salary is not high. We used to ask him all the time when he would marry his girlfriend. His joking rejoinder would always be: "First, you tell my boss to raise my salary. The salary working for the state government is so low, how to get married?"

Steadfast

Beng Hock (right) witnessed many injustices as a journalist. Nie Ching is on the far left.

Despite the low salary, and his family's protest and their advice to him to change profession, he remained steadfast and chose to stay on with the DAP. Part of this, I know, was because as a journalist, he witnessed many injustices and unreasonable incidents which caused him much anger.

In fact, he chose to join the DAP and to become Hian Wah's assistant because of the frustrations he faced as a journalist such as the limitations on the freedom of information. He used to tell me that his biggest ambition as a political aide was to cleanse Serdang of the Barisan Nasional's influence and make it a safe seat for the DAP, placed under the PR's governance. It was that vision that made him willing to endure the long hours to continue serving the people.

This was who Beng Hock was — a responsible young man full of ambitions.

To Beng Hock

On 30 Aug 2009, a day before Independence Day, a group of members from Pusat Perkhidmatan DAP Serdang, together with Serdang's DAP Socialist Youth and I, went to Malacca just to pay our last respects to you on the sixth day of the seven-day prayers for you.

Your family was still in deep sorrow, especially your mother. You had just left us for a month and a half, and yet she seemed ten years older than her age. Your brother told us she lived in tears every single day, no matter what she was doing; whether eating, washing or ironing. And that was what I saw as well, a mother with nothing left but devastation.

I hugged her tightly to comfort her but it did not help. She did not want anything but her son. She kept murmuring to herself, "Why did he walk in healthy but could not walk out from there?" "How could they do this to him?" "You promised to come home by Friday, how could you leave like that on Thursday?"

I know that deep down inside her heart, she is still hoping that her son will come home one day to dine with her. But that day will not ever come.

During our 52nd Independence Day this year, instead of distributing the national flags on the streets like I did last year, I wrote about you instead, to commemorate you, your spirit and soul, everything that you did to contribute to your country.

DAP comrades, Beng Hock and Nie Ching

I can imagine the kind of conversation we would be having now, if only you were still here. I can even predict your reactions and expressions. However, you are but a memory now.

There are some people whom we only know for a short time, yet he or she becomes part of our lives. Beng Hock died for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. It is time for us to carry on the work he left behind.

Change We Did, What's Next?

Pulse of the Nation

During the occurrence of a profuse bleeding, the immediate measure that should be taken is no other than arresting the bleeding. The reason is simple, clear and pellucid - to stop the lost of blood which encompasses plasma, erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes and the likes. The matters happening around us can be synonymized with our internal environment. We need an environment that is regulated within a range, named homeostasis.

Before moving on further, allow me to clarify two terms in case of any confusion, viz:

1. homeostasis: a state of equilibrium or a tendency to reach equilibrium, either metabolically within a cell or organism or socially and psychologically within an individual or group.
2. hemostasis: the stopping of bleeding or hemorrhaging in an organ or body part.

The above two words sound the same. Basically both have the same objective - for the betterment of our body. How can we correlate homeostasis with the happenings in daily context? Let me point out a typical example. May 7, the day of infamy at Perak where it brought much of shame to our country in the eyes of other country should be tabled as the main agenda in bringing out an amicable solution for the sake of Perakians, restoring the 'homeostasis' they once used to enjoy.

I wonder why the Federal government, led by the Barisan Nasional coalition is not keen at 'arresting' the 'bleeding' faced by the Perakians. Instead, the police force was misused, arresting hundreds of innocent people. What have they done wrong? We have lost our most basic human rights. We are not allowed to wear black shirts, hold peaceful gatherings, and even candlelight vigil.

The people are just like the blood cells, they contribute to the thick and thin of the development of the country. Without any single of them, there would not be any state of homeostasis. In other words, our beloved motherland - Malaysia will never achieve the tag of World Class Country and the people will forever be embedded with the label of third world mentality. Ask yourself, do we want this?

When the country's economy is not improving or in a stagnant state, what should be done is we shoulder the burden together. But not rubbing salt to the wound, throwing baseless allegations and 'push' the responsibility-balls here and there. All the member of parliaments are given the mandate by the people to ensure that any deviation would not hobble out of the range of homeostasis.

My call to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, please stop all the nonsense and do what you do - the honourable things. As what you said, listen to the pulse of the people, but sincerely. Not by listening through a opaque glass, but through a stethoscope. The pulse of the nation lies on you heavily.

To address the 'bleedings' is what we rakyat aspire from all the member of parliaments. Nobody wants to be sidelined. Please do not play the racial cards in splitting us again.

Anak Malaysia or Anak Laos?

Anak Malaysia or Anak Laos? From the surface view, it seems that both do not differ except in terms of nationality. But when it comes to the aspect of social concerns, there is a wide gap that is sandwiching both.

Few days ago, I was approached by a volunteer from the Spastic Children's Association of Selangor and Federal Territory (SCASFT). I had a thought in my mind - is the Community Service Overseas Trip to Laos relevant? The anwer is definitely a No for the time being. I stress again, for the time being!

The Singaporean Najib is playing all the irrational cards again. Have you ever come across the situations in Sabah and Sarawak? I bet most would only know the existence of the states and have the perception of both the states are occupied by the orang asli. I have nearly forgotten that Singaporean Najib is from Singapore. How on earth would he understand the problems faced by the people there?

Have you heard the cries of Sabah and Sarawak? We never experience blackout of electricity or shortage of water supply so frequently where it could be four or five times a week. We never think of their standard of living. We never see their niche, the environment that they live. Don't you think that Sabahans and Sarawakians deserve more than anyone else? What more in such a trying time, where we are facing one of the worst ever economic crisis in a century.

I concur to what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said "Anak Melayu anak kita, Anak Cina anak kita, Anak India anak kita...".

And I now say Anak Selangor anak kita, Anak Sabah anak kita, dan Anak Sarawak juga anak kita!

He has put his personal agenda above the national interest. Obviously, even a dumb can tell that to travel to Laos would cost more dearly than to travel to Sabah or Sarawak. But the question arises when they have difficulty in raising the amount needed, and yet they insist on going to Laos.

Perak? Negeri Sembilan? Why not consider these states? Has the state government achieved zero poverty and ensured that every single disabled person gets the full support and backing from the concerned departments? Answer me!

Travelling locally is definitely cheaper. And for the accommodation, I am sure that the local authorities can lend a helping hand. So why sell keropok so desperately?

From an internal source, it says "So, I really wish to develop in each of you the CSC's spirit (impacting lives, imparting love), by giving out the best of us whole-heartedly in every visit, just like the difference which Melissa is trying to make in the coming visit to Tmn Megah. I can tell she is truly spirited and passionate in contributing to the lower society."

Now I understand that only the person above is trying to make a difference and has put every single soul into the visits and the others are just embedded with prima donna attitude. Try to make it simple, it indirectly means that if you do not attend the weekly visits, and you will be slapped with the not-spirited-and-not-passionate tag!

Tell me people, any scale to measure how passionate a person can be in contributing to the society through weekly visits?

All in all, Anak Malaysia is still the one that needs the utmost support and backing. for the time being. Conjecture about it!

JPA Scholarships – Seeking A Fair & Equitable Policy

An Email received from Erica Hew Li Huang, Special Assistant to YB Tony Pua.

Read about all the renewed controversy over the JPA scholarships recently?

Well, in the light of the neverending controversy over the award of government scholarships by Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) of the Prime Minister's Department, DAP will be holding a forum/dialogue session to obtain feedback from:

• aggrieved students
• current and former local and overseas scholars
• academics
• the general public

The forum/dialogue will be held as follows:

JPA Scholarships – Seeking A Fair & Equitable Policy
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 19th May 2009 (Tuesday)
Time: 8.00 pm

The panelists will include:

• Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Ipoh Timor,
• Anthony Loke Siew Fook, MP for Rasah and DAPSY Chief,
• Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara,
• Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, PAS Research Centre Director and MP for Kuala Selangor
• Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Selangor ADUN for Seri Setia

Dr Goh Cheng Teik, eminent academic, former deputy minister and interviewer for Harvard University admission programme in Malaysia will also be a special guest for the evening.

In addition, for students and scholars who are not able to make it for the forum (e.g., if you are overseas or if you live outstation, you are welcome to submit written submissions to the panel. Please write to: dapscholarship (at) rocketmail (dot) com.

Please put up on your respective blogs or forward details of the above forum to all parties concerned, especially those who have failed to secure scholarships despite outstanding results. We will be making a compilation of the complaints, appeals and suggestions made during the evening.

For further reading:

• I will be fair to PSD director-general but he must be fair to all PSD scholarship applicants

• The unfair PSD scholarship awards

From May 13 to 1 Malaysia

On Wedneday night, 13th May 2009, it was exactly 40 years since the occurrence of May 13 that is still vividly embedded in the minds especially for the elderly. One of the DAP branches in Selangor organised a forum themed From May 13 to 1 Malaysia last night at the MPSJ Civic Hall. It was supposed to be a forum with targeted a small crowd of audience but it turned out to be a mammoth ceramah.

The speakers present were YB Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timor MP), YAB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (Bukit Gantang MP), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam MP), YM Tunku Abdul Aziz (DAP Vice Chairman and former Transparency International Chairman), K. Ragunath (Bar Council Chairman), Dr Azmi Sharom (Faculty Law Lecturer from UM), N.H. Chan (retired Judge), Tricia Yeoh (Researcher for MB Selangor) and lastly Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to grace the function with an opening speech.

Most of the speakers said that it was great to see people from different races gathering in the hall. Have Malaysians really dumped the idea of racial difference and adopted the identity of Bangsa Malaysia?

It is certainly a meaningful topic to discuss about. What has been the barrier to the progress of our beloved Malaysia? The only and one answer to it is no other than Racial based politics and policies.

The political tsunami in March 2008 has certainly depicted the willingness of the people in Peninsular Malaysia to move forward, each and every envisaging a new dawn. However, it is sad to see that some politicians are still playing the racial cards, trying to divide us (in particular the people from Sabah and Sarawak).

Though I am a hardcore supporter of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), but I have to say that none of the political parties in Malaysia have actually achieved the multiracial platform. Not even Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) where it was claimed by the former secretary to Tun Abdul Razak, "I see PKR as the closest component party of Pakatan Raykat in achieving it". Why do I say so?

Let's recall the recent two by-election in Bukit Selambau, Kedah and Bukit Gantang, Perak. Both the seats were contested on a PKR ticket. Try to think meticulously, if Bangsa Malaysia factor was really instilled, they would not have chosen the candidates based on the racial majority. Even though it is learnt that there were increase in votes from the Chinese and Indian communities. If we are really Bangsa Malaysia, we will not be talking about which community voted for which candidate.

It would only be a Bangsa Malaysia voting for a candidate of Bangsa Malaysia!

I came across a few notions regarding the grievances on the recent scholarship matter which is indirectly correlated with racial issue. An alumni of Chung Ling High School Penang appeared to have emailed a letter to National DAP Advisor cum Ipoh Timor MP, YB Lim Kit Siang about the matter mentioned above. In his letter, he touched on the sensitive racial issue, viz:

"Well, I can see this happens every year. Every year, to the same victims (Chinese Top Students), at the same time(after SPM results released), the same thing happen continuously in our country. Every year, I see the problems occur non-stop, it seems like unsolved cases even though those ministers, parties promised it could be solved. I have lost my confidence over their creditability, how can you give scholarship to someone, who his/her result is poorer than the others, just because of the skin colour."

Through the Rage by the Star, I found out this question: What will it take for you as the youth to think 'Malaysian' first and Chinese/Malay/Indian next? by Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia.

A Malaysian citizen from Petaling Jaya named Meng Yean responded "Start with getting rid of the RACE column which appears in nearly every form across the country. If you do so, we’ll probably adapt to Bangsa Malaysia, rather than the Melayu/Cina/India/Lain-lain mentality."

The May 13 tradegy has taught us valuable lessons. Have we not learnt from it? It is time for everyone to pack up the mindset of being diverged into racial components and bury it.

Member of Parliament for PJ Utara - YB Tony Pua

with YB Tony Pua.

with his assistant - Joo Shin (centre).

Almost Daily Reminder of Deterioration of Quality Life in Malaysia - whether in Crime, Health or Education

By DAP National Advisor cum Member of Parliament of Ipoh Timur - YB Lim Kit Siang

There is almost a daily reminder of deterioration of quality of life in Malaysia – with three news items today highlighting worsening crime, health and education conditions in the country.

The first is the shocking news “MIC division treasurer killed by intruders” (the Sun), on the latest victim of endemic crime in Malaysia – MIC Ipoh Barat division treasurer N. Sidambaram, 64, who was killed by six parang-wielding intruders in his house on Jalan Wayang in Buntung, Ipoh early yesterday morning.

This comes on the heel of the attack on the Tawau acting OCPD Supt Ramli Ali Mat who was seriously injured after being stabbed in his house by a group of five men and the attack on another policeman, L/Kpl S. Paramasivam, 49, who was beaten up by a group of 10 Mat Rempits using helmets and metal roads while on anti-crime rounds in Kuala Lumpur requiring five stitches for his wound in his head, both incidents happening in the first 12 days of the new year.

These crimes provide vivid illustration of the serious breakdown of law and order in Malaysia with the government unable to deliver its most elementary duty – to ensure the safety of its citizens, visitors and investors!

The second is the report that the dengue toll had climbed relentlessly to 112 dengue deaths last year – with the Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai continuing to show no real ministerial concern or interest to the worst dengue epidemic and mortality figure in the nation’s history!

What has happened to Malaysia’s previous reputation for excellent public health services and standards?

The third is Singapore Straits Times report “Singapore’s top student is Malaysian” – Haw Sue Hern from CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School, Singapore (who is from Subang Jaya ) who scored 10 A1s making her top O-level performer out of 36,640 students in Singapore.

This highlights the grave and continuing problem of “brain drain”, giving a most adverse reflection on the education system in the country - especially taken into account the indifferent and irresponsible attitude adopted by the Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is still to break his month-long silence and explain Malaysia’s disastrous showing in the 60-nation Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007 for Year-8 secondary students.

Instead of transforming ourselves from a nation with “First World Infrastructure, Third World Mentality” into a “First World Infrastructure, First World Mentality”, we are heading in the opposite direction towards a nation with deteriorating quality of life for Malaysians.

When we have a Health Minister who is not concerned about the dengue epidemic and the unprecedented dengue toll and cases last year; a Home Minister not concerned about the endemic crime in the country where Malaysians are no more safe whether in the streets, public places or even in the privacy of their homes; or an Education Minister unconcerned about deteriorating educational standards, the first conditions for reform to ensure all Malaysians to enjoy quality healthcare, education and personal safety are just not present.

By-election for Kuala Terengganu (2)

Heading into the second day of the campaign for the by-election in Kuala Terengganu, the heat has been turned on by both sides through the mammoth ceramahs. Character assassination has been used by the Barisan Nasional as their propaganda to gun down the opposition particularly the failure of the de factor leader of PKR cum MP for Permatang Pauh, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in fulfilling his promise in toppling the federal government on the 9th of September 2008. Many have been misled by the Barisan Nasional's allegations. To have a thorough 'sky change' on the 9th of September 2008 does not mean to topple the federal government immediately, but to engage on the process of creating a new dawn.

I was thinking the previous claims of several heavyweights from the Barisan Nasional - it would be immoral to get MPs from BN to cross over as it would have gone against the mandate given to the respective party in the general election. Since the 'sky change' did not take place as anticipated by many, why should the Barisan Nasional be using this topic to launch personal attacks on the opposition. I remember vividly that the outgoing Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected the request from the opposition to convene an urgent parliament session after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was confident of showing him a list of the MPs that were going to defect him. Since the truth (whether 916 was supposed to occur last year) is not known by any of us including the ministers and MPs of the BN and Pakatan Rakyat, the topic on 916 is irrelevant to be used in this by-election.

"The allocations and assistance to Chinese schools and to beautify Chinese villages show that the BN government is fair to all races. We need a capable leader who can also work closely with MCA." The above statement made by Wanita MCA Chief, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun 'mesmerised' me when I first came across it. But after considering it further, it has become a laughing stock to utter the above statement in such an important period. The statement depicts the the BN government is practising half-past six attitude in progressing with the other part of the world. Allocations and assistance are only provided if there is a by-election - how can the state progress?

Since the start of the campaign, MCA Wanita has kicked off with the planned activities and programmes. I pose my question to MCA Wanita - why do you need to wait for a by-election to carry out all these activities? You all should have been doing this weekly! Moreover, I would like to convey an advice to Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun. In the last general election, you as the incumbent lost out the PJ Utara seat to YB Tony Pua though you took advantage of the bias government controlled mass media to 'explain' the so-called fair government policies. You should flashback and find out the reasons you lost to YB Tony Pua. From my point of view, people are no longer blinded by your words easily; likewise, the articles today in newspapers will not lend you a helping hand.

And more pertinently, this by-election does not merely decide the fate of the people in Kuala Terengganu, but the fate of all the Malaysians. Regardless of race, all Malaysians in Kuala Terengganu are prudent enough to jump out of the racial coconut shells and drop their ballot into the redefining box of a brand new Malaysia!

By-election for Kuala Terengganu (1)

The announcement of a three-way tussle for the Kuala Terengganu by-election by the Election Commissioner (EC) was no surprise. It is more likely to be a battle between the Barisan Nasional candidate, Datuk Wan Ahamd Farid Wan Salleh from Umno and the Pakatan Rakyat candidate, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut from Pas. Nevertheless the independent candidate, Azharuddin Mamat@Adam could still be the deciding factor, where he could garner a few redefining votes from the local community. The big win in the previous by-election at Permatang Pauh by Opposition leader cum de factor leader or PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not signify a win-win situation in Kuala Terengganu.

I foreshadow the 14-day campaign will be paramount in terms of answering the critics posed by either sides. Barisan Nasional will most probably be using the recent hot issues on the implementation of huhud laws by Pas to fish votes from the Chinese community and the breakdown in communication of several MPs from the Pakatan Rakyat to wipe out the relevance of the coalition in continue serving the people. Meanwhile, the Pakatan Rakyat is very likely to continue their bid in voicing the unaddressed voices of the lower income group such as the insufficient subsidy of the petrol and diesel for the fishermen, lack of development under the new economic corridor, the practice of corruption and cronyism, and lastly the question of transparency and also the credibility of the judicial in particular the murder of the Mongolian girl. And also obtaining the deserved rights of the people which include the abolishing of Internal Security Act (ISA) and the ban imposed on Hindraf.

In today's New Straits Times and The Sun newspapers, dated 7th January 2009, our Deputy Prime Minister cum incoming President of Umno, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh would be the right man for the right job in bringing about changes since he was a former deputy Home Minister and a senator. Furthermore, he asked that which candidate would you want - a candidate that is assured to be a deputy Home Minister once again after victory or a candidate without any political post to be the representative of you people? On behalf of the voices of the oppositions, let me answer your question. It makes no difference whether the MP is a member of the cabinet or not. I shall let you compare - would you want a MP that is a minister but practises corruption or a MP that is without any positions but would willingly spend time to address the difficulty faced by the people.

In my previous by-election post for the Permatang Pauh, I did mention that casting your vote for the BN will not reap any advantages since it will only favour the top hierarchy of BN. Will they distribute the economic pie fairly to all the races? Malaysia has achieved independence for more than 50 years and we have seen enough of all the undone promises made. It is time to give in a new breath of air to the Pakatan Rakyat for a chance to change. You can witness there are not many changes after the famous political tsunami way back in March 2008. It tells you that the domineering nature of the Umno still prevails and predominant in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Few days ago, it was reported in Bernama news that the floods that hit the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia with more than 10,000 students could not make it to the first day of school. Have the government taken any initiative to curb this problem from happening yearly? And in today's newspaper, there is a report on the effect of climatic change on the floods. Again, have the government especially the Ministry of Environment done their part to conserve the forests and also ensured that the going green campaigns are effectively carried out? The number of students affected could have been reduced if the government has taken the measures to solve the problem by may be relocating the schools, building deeper drains and making sure the rivers are not filled up with rubbish.

The by-election is not only a yardstick to know whether the people's mindsets are still on the verge of hoping for a 'sky change' as mentioned by MP for Ipoh Timur cum DAP National Advisor, YB Lim Kit Siang, but it serves as a platform to reflect the silent struggles of the 10-month old Pakatan Rakyat in creating a new dawn for the people of Malaysia. When the Barisan Nasional coalition was first formed, I believe they too had to endure through the same hurdles as seen by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition now. Why do Barisan Nasional have the right to enjoy a political hegemony for approximately 50 years and the Pakatan Rakyat coalition is not given a chance to solve their internal problems? Think about it!